r -= 

* i 

The  Work  of  God  in  Micronesia. 

1852-1883. 


&n  historical  Skctclj. 


BY 

Rev.  Robert  W.  Logan, 

Missionary  to  Micronesia. 


Boston: 

PUBLISHED  BY  THE  AMERICAN  BOARD  OF  COMMISSIONERS 
FOR  FOREIGN  MISSIONS. 

1884. 


PREFATORY  NOTE- 


In  the  fallowing  sketch,  Rev.  R.  W.  Lo'gai*r-wlrfi  characteristic 
modesty,  teas  the  wonderful  story  of^^spe^tttuiUfihs  in  Micronesia 
with  a colorless ^jdeliyj  to  facTsyLxcenl  tlyit,  li^ftic  reading,  nobody 
would  get  so  much  as  A liintf'of  Sin^iJfrt  whjpfinie  aud  his  good  wife 
have  contributed  to faUQjsafcult,'  IfilulWs  told,  it  must  be  by  some, 
other  pen.  Simple  justice  requires  that  something  be  said  Mr 
Logan,  with  his  wife,  both  of  Ohio  and  of  Oberlin  College,  went 
to  Micronesia  in  1ST4,  and  were  located  in  Ponape,  one  of  the 
Caroline  Islands.  Three  years  later,  while  still  engaged  in  the  work 
of  that  station,  he  was  appointed  to  learn  the  Mortlock  language  by 
the  aid  of  natives  front  the  islands  of  tiiat  group,  then  in  the  schools 
at  Ponape.  He  was  thus  occupied  for  two  years.  In  November, 
1ST9,  he  and  his  wife  were  transferred  to  Oniop,  of  the  Mortlock 
group,  where  they  remained  thirteen  months.  Like  others  before 
them  on  these  low  coral  islands,  they  suffered  from  poor  and  insuf 
fieient  fare,  their  supplies  running  low,  as  the  Morning  Star,  delayed 
by  Pacilic  calms,  lingered  on  its  way  with  the  longed-tor  necessaries 
of  life.  Forced  to  leave  to  save  life,  they  went  first  to  Ponape,  and, 
some  months  later,  to  New  Zealand,  on  a little  schooner  of  sixty 
tons.  They,  with  two  children,  were  seventy  nine  days  at  sea,  and 
for  a long  time  on  short  rations.  The  story  of  this  tedious  voyage, 
in  cramped  quarters  aud  with  poor  health,  is  one  not  likely  to  be 
forgotten  by  those  who  are  familiar  with  its  graphic  and  pathetic 
recital.  They  reached  this  country,  by  way  of  Honolulu;  March  31, 
1SS2.  Through  their  joint  labors  a Mortlock  Hymn  book  was  made, 
and  published  in  Cincinnati;  aud  a Mortlock  Reader  and  Spelling 
book,  at  Honolulu.  Bible  stories  in  the  same  tongue  are  now  going 
through  the  press  of  the  American  Tract  Society,  and  the  New 
Testament  through  that  of  the  American  Bible  Society.  Besides 
these  labors  of  translation  and  revision,  these  worthy  missionaries 
are  filling  up  the  few  months  remaining  to  them  in  their  native  land 
by  stirring  recitals  of  the  work  of  God  in  the  Pacific  Isles,  thus 
drawing  to  themselves  many  hearts  that  will  follow  them  over  the 
sea  as  they  return  to  their  island  home  aud  their  labor  of  love  for 
the  Master.  H.  C.  H, 

Bible  House,  New  York,  December,  1SS3. 


MICRONESIA. 


CHARACTER  OF  TIIE  ISLANDS. 

The  islands  of  Micronesia  lie  along  the  equator,  and 
a little  west  of  the  meridian  on  which  the  world's  day 
begins.  The  Mieronesian  Christians  have  finished  their 
Sabbath  worship,  and  fallen  asleep  under  the  shelter  of 
their  thatched  cottages  beneath  the  cocoa-trees,  before 
Christians  in  America  have  begun  the  services  of  the 
day. 

Micronesia  is  a sub-division  of  Polynesia,  the  generic 
name  for  the  myriad  islands  scattered  over  the  broad 
Pacific  Ocean.  It  is  composed  of  four  groups : the 
Gilbert  or  Kingsmill  Islands,  which  lie  on  both  sides  of 
the  equator,  and  a little  beyond  the  180th  meridian; 
the  Marshall  or  Mulgrave  Islands,  subdivided  into  the 
Radack  and  Ralick  chains;  the  Caroline;  and  the 
Ladrone  Islands.  The  three  former  groups  only  are 
missionary  ground,  as  the  Ladrone  Islands  are  a Spanish 
penal  colony,  and  the  native  race  is  extinct. 

The  islands  of  Micronesia  are  in  the  great  coral  belt  — 
the  Gilbert  and  Marshall  ^groups  being  exclusively  of 
coral  formation  — and  lie  in  the  Caroline  Archipelago, 
which  stretches  over  the  sea  a distance  of  two  thousand 
miles  from  east  to  west.  Many  of  the  atolls,  or  coral 
islands,  enclose  lagoons  from  ten  to  fifteen  miles  broad, 
and  from  twenty  to  thirty  miles  long. 

The  climate  of  Micronesia  is  a never-ending  summer ; 
never  so  hot  as  the  hottest  summer  days  in  America,  and 
never  cold  enough  to  cause  chilliness.  The  greatest 
range  of  the  thermometer  experienced  during  a residence 


2 


MICRONESIA. 


of  several  years  on  Ponape.  one  of  the  Caroline  group, 
was  thirteen  degrees  — from  74  degrees  to  S7  degrees  in 
the  shade.  On  some  of  the  islands  the  rainfall  is 
excessive,  on  others  but  moderate. 

THE  INHABITANTS. 

The  islands  of  Polynesia  are  inhabited  by  two  races  of 
people:  brown  and  black.  The  brown  are  found  on  the 
Sandwich  Islands,  the  Marquesas,  the  Society  and  the 
Samoan  groups,  the  Hervey,  and  New  Zealand.  To  this 
race  belong  the  inhabitants  of  Micronesia.  The  Melane- 
sians, found  on  the  Fiji  Islands,  New  Caledonia,  the 
New  Hebrides,  the  Loyalty  and  Solomon  groups.  New 
Britain,  and  New  Guinea,  are  akin  to  the  African, 
having  the  woolly  hair  and  the  physiognomy  of  the 
negro  races.  They  are  lower  down  in  the  scale  of 
civilization  than  their  brown  neighbors,  being,  as  a rule, 
cannibals,  tierce,  warlike,  treacherous,  and  intractable. 
It  was  among  these  people  that  John  Williams.  Bishop 
Patteson,  the  Gordons,  and  other  misssionaries,  lost  their 
lives.  But,  degraded  as  they  are,  the  entire  history  of 
Christian  missions  can  show  no  greater  transformation 
than  has  taken  place  on  the  Fiji  Islands,  as  the  result  of 
English  Wesleyan  missions. 

The  islands  inhabited  by  the  black  Polynesians  enter 
like  a wedge  among  those  inhabited  by  the  brown  race, 
the  apex  being  the  Fiji  Islands.  The  accepted  theory, 
until  recently,  has  been  that  the  brown  Polynesians 
belong  to  the  Malay  race.  Later  investigations,  by  Judge 
Fornander,  of  the  Hawaiian  Islands,  and  certain  German 
scholars,  render  it  probable  that  they  may  be  a branch 
of  the  Caucasian  race.  It  is  thought  that  by  means  of 
their  languages,  traditions,  and  mythologies,  the  Poly- 
nesians can  be  traced  back  from  their  jiresent  abode, 
step  by  step,  through  the  island  groups  of  the  Pacific 


MICRONESIA. 


3 


and  Indian  Oceans,  to  the  Indian  Peninsula,  and  onward 
to  the  central  tablelands  of  Asia,  whence  the  Caucasian 
races,  in  the  beginnings  of  history,  emigrated  westward 
and  southward.  In  those  groups  in  which  tire  different 
islands  are  near  enough  to  allow  of  communication,  even 
though  comparatively  infrequent,  there  is  usually  a 
common  language;  where  widely  separated,  different 
languages  have  been  developed.  Most  of  the  various 
dialects  abound  in  vowel  sounds,  two  consonants  rarely 
coming  together  in  the  middle  of  a word,  and  all  words 
ending  in  vowels. 


RELIGIOUS  BELIEFS. 

Religious  beliefs  and  observances  varied  with  different 
groups,  yet  had  certain  characteristics  in  common. 
The  people  were  not  idolaters.  They  believed  in  the 
existence  of  spiritual  beings,  whose  power  they  feared 
and  whose  anger  they  sought  in  many  ways  to  avert. 
But  we  never  found  any  conception  of  a supreme  Deity, 
or  a belief  in  one  Spirit  surpassing  all  others  in  power. 
They  believed  that  the  spirit  of  man  survived  his  death, 
and  lived  on  in  one  of  two  places,  or  states,  one  more 
desirable  than  the  other,  but  with  no  difference  based  on 
clearly-defined  desert,  or  moral  character.  They  recog- 
nized the  fundamental  distinction  between  right  and 
wrong,  and  the  binding  force  of  most  of  the  Decalogue, 
when  it  was  presented  to  them. 

On  some  of  the  islands  there  was  a regular  priesthood, 
with  rites  of  worship ; on  others,  little  more  than  certain 
superstitious  observances.  They  prayed  to  spirits,  and 
offered  gifts  and  oblations.  Their  traditions  and  mythol- 
ogies were  usually  only  a confused  jumble,  and  their 
religious  beliefs  seemed  to  have  little  influence  on  their 
character.  Christianity  has  to  overcome  rather  the 
inertia  and  the  opposition  of  wicked  hearts,  than  any 
firm  adherence  to  their  beliefs. 


4 


MICRONESIA. 


MISSIONARY  WORK. 

The  missionary  work  among  the  islands  lying  south  of 
the  equator  is  carried  on  by  various  English  societies, 
the  London  Missionary  Society  taking  the  lead.  The 
islands  north  of  the  equator  are  the  field  of  the  American 
Board,  no  other  society  occupying  any  portion  of  the 
field. 

Our  work  in  Micronesia  was  begun  in  1852,  the  pioneer 
band  consisting  of  Revs.  Benjamin  G.  Snow,  Luther 
II.  Gulieli,  m.  d.,  and  Albert  A.  Sturges,  with  their 
wives,  and  two  Hawaiian  families.  Ponape  and  Ivusaie. 
of  the  Caroline  Islands,  were  occupied.  From  tAvo  to  six 
families  of  white  laborers  have  been  at  work  in  the 
various  groups  for  thirty  years.  The  night  of  toil  was 
long,  but  the  morning  at  length  began  to  dawn.  The 
confidence  of  the  nati\res  had  to  be  Avon,  their  languages 
acquired  and  reduced  to  Avriting,  and  the  Scriptures 
translated.  Homes,  churches,  and  schoolhouses  AA-ere 
built.  The  people  Avere  given  the  rudiments  of  an 
education,  and  taught  the  vital  truths  of  Christianity. 
Churches  Avere  gathered  and  instructed,  and  native  youth 
were  trained  to  become  teachers  and  pastors  at  home  as 
Avell  as  foreign  missionaries  in  the  islands  beyond.  At 
the  beginning,  the  people  Avere  savages,  having,  on  some 
of  the  islands,  the  vices  and  diseases  of  civilization 
superadded  to  their  OAvn.  Noav,  at  the  end  of  these 
thirty  years,  “ Avhat  hath  God  wrought " ? Five 
languages  have  been  reduced  to  Avriting,  and  school- 
books prepared  and  printed  in  all  of  them.  From  fifty 
to  one  hundred  and  fifty  hymns  have  been  translated, 
or  composed,  and  set  to  music.  Books  of  Bible  stories 
and  catechisms  have  been  prepared,  and  portions  of  the 
Scriptures  translated.  The  AA'hole  Ncav  Testament  has 
been  put  into  tAvo  of  these  dialects,  and  in  one  — that  of 
the  Gilbert  Islands  — it  has  already  reached  the  fourth 


MICRONESIA. 


5 


edition.  Twenty-nine  different  islands  are  now  occupied, 
and  on  fully  half  of  them  heathenism  has  disappeared. 
More  than  twenty  native  preachers  have  been  raised 
up,  of  whom  the  majority  are  doing  faithful  and  effective 
work.  There  are  about  forty  organized  churches,  with 
a membership,  it  is  estimated,  of  nearly  thirty-five  hun- 
dred. 


THE  GILBERT  ISLANDS. 

The  Gilbert  Islands  lie  on  both  sides  of  the  equator 
and  a little  beyond  the  ISOth  meridian.  They  are  six- 
teen in  number,  with  a thin  soil,  scanty  rainfall,  and 
limited  vegetation.  The  cocoanut-pahn  thrives  here,  as 
well  as  the pandanus,  or  screw-pine;  but  almost  nothing 
else  which  can  furnish  food  for  human  beings.  Advo- 
cates of  a meagre  diet,  as  conducive  to  health,  might  do 
well  to  emigrate  to  the  Gilbert  Islands.  If  they  survive 
the  experiment,  their  testimony  will  be  interesting; 
possibly,  however,  a little  “ thin.'’  The  same  language 
is  spoken  on  all  of  these  islands.  The  people  are 
naturally  hardy,  savage,  and  quarrelsome.  They  wear 
very  little  clothing,  and  men  were  frequently  seen 
entirely  naked.  The  bodies  of  the  men  are  often  covered 
with  scars,  and  no  dandy  is  more  proud  of  his  rings  and 
jewels  than  are  these  men  of  the  unsightly  scars  which 
indicate  their  prowess.  While  not  cannibals  in  the  same 
sense  as  were  the  Fiji  Islanders,  yet  it  is  said  that  on 
some  of  the  islands  there  is  probably  not  an  adult  male 
who  has  not  tasted  human  flesh. 

The  only  water  lit  to  drink  on  all  coral  islands  is  rain- 
water. Missionaries  living  on  the  Gilbert  Islands  are 
obliged  to  depend  almost  entirely  upou  foreign  food, 
which  is  never  perfectly  fresh,  and  always  preserved 
with  difficulty.  Rev.  Hiram  Bingham,  Jr.,  with  his 
devoted  wife,  began  work  here  in  1857,  and  labored  on 
alone,  with  their  Hawaiian  helpers,  until  1874.  Fre- 


6 


MICRONESIA. 


quently  they  were  obliged,  in  self-preservation,  to  flee 
for  a season  to  a more  salubrious  clime;  until,  at  last, 
utterly  broken  in  health,  they  were  compelled  to  take  up 
their  residence  at  Honolulu,  where  they  still  continue 
their  labors  of  love  among  Gilbert  Islanders  who  have 
been  brought  to  Hawaii  as  laborers.  The  days  of 
martyrs  and  heroes  of  faith  are  not  yet  past. 

Rev.  H.  J.  Taylor,  son  of  11  Father  Taylor ’'of  the 
Madura  Mission,  — like  Mr.  Bingham,  born  in  the  mis- 
sion field,  — went  with  his  young  wife  to  the  Gilbert 
Islands,  in  1874,  to  reinforce  Mr.  Bingham;  but  before 
she  had  been  on  Apaiang  six  weeks,  Mrs.  Taylor  died  of 
fever,  and  was  buried  under  the  cocoa-trees.  A few 
months  later,  Mr.  Bingham  was  obliged  to  flee  for  his 
life  to  Samoa,  and  then  to  Auckland.  Mr.  Taylor  was 
left  alone  with  his  infant  son.  He  acquired  the  language, 
won  the  confidence  of  the  natives,  and  labored  most 
effectively  for  two  years,  when  he,  too,  was  compelled  to 
flee  for  his  life.  After  some  years  spent  in  America,  — 
having  recovered  his  health,  and  married  again,  — he 
returned  to  the  field  with  Rev.  A.  C.  Walkup  and  wife, 
only  to  lay  his  second  wife  beside  her  sister.  And  now, 
with  his  three  motherless  children,  he  is  compelled  to 
retire  from  the  work.  Mrs.  Walkup's  life  was  only 
saved  by  her  going  to  Ivusaie,  and  ultimately  to  her  old 
home  in  Kansas.  Hence  the  Board  has  been  constrained 
reluctantly  to  withdraw  its  missionaries  from  the  Gilbert 
Islands,  taking  them  seven  hundred  miles  to  Ivusaie,  a 
high,  fertile  island,  the  easternmost  of  the  Caroline 
group.  Here,  also,  the  Gilbert  Island  youth  will  be 
brought  and,  amid  beautiful  surroundings  and  in  a much 
more  salubrious  climate,  will  be  trained  to  carry  on 
the  work  among  their  own  people,  in  connection  with 
Haw  aiian  missionaries.  The  lives  of  the  missionaries  on 
the  Gilbert  Islands  have  often  been  in  danger;  they  have 
sowed  in  tears  and  with  long  waiting ; but  their  labors 


MICRONESIA. 


7 


and  sacrifices  have  not  been  in  vain  in  the  Lord.  The 
Morning  Star , on  her  last  trip,  found  three  hundred 
candidates  for  baptism  on  one  island,  two  hundred  on 
another,  while  on  a third,  an  island  where  a few  years 
ago  even  the  Morning  Star's  boat  dared  not  land,  the 
people  were  found  anxious  to  be  taught. 

THE  MARSHALL  ISLANDS. 

The  Marshall  Islands  lie  northwest  of  the  Gilbert,  and 
are  very  numerous,  the  atolls  lying  like  great  strings  of 
green  beads  on  the  surface  of  the  water.  We  have  here 
a tine,  athletic  race,  speaking  a different  language,  more 
skilful  in  various  handicrafts,  less  savage,  yet  bold  and 
warlike,  not  hesitating  in  former  times  even  to  attack 
large  vessels.  The  Gilbert  Islanders  are  a very  intem- 
perate people,  while  the  Marshall  Islanders,  until 
foreigners  had  corrupted  them,  had  no  taste  for  intox- 
icants. 

The  work,  begun  here  in  1857  by  Rev.  Edward  T. 
Doane  and  Rev.  George  Pierson,  m.  d.,  has  been  carried 
on  principally  by  Rev.  B.  G.  Snow  and  Rev.  J.  F.  Whit- 
ney, with  their  wives.  Rev.  E.  M.  Pease,  m.  d.,  who 
served  through  the  war  of  the  Rebellion  as  surgeon,  and 
later  in  the  regular  array,  with  his  wife  and  Miss  L.  S. 
Cathcart  are  now  the  only  laborers  in  this  field.  Their 
home  is  on  the  beautiful  island  of  Kusaie,  where,  through 
the  training-school,  they  are  raising  up  laborers  who  are 
to  do  the  work  of  this  field.  The  work  moves  slowly  on. 
but  enough  has  been  done  to  give  bright  hopes  for  the 
future. 

THE  CAROLINE  GROUP. 

This  group  is  composed  of  many  islands,  five  only 
being  high  ground,  namely : Kusaie  or  Strong’s  Island, 
Ponape,  Ruk  or  Hogolu,  Yap,  and  Pelew.  The  inhab- 
itants are,  probably,  of  mixed  origin.  We  find  here 


8 


MICRONESIA. 


languages  in  which  words  often  end  in  consonants.  On 
some  of  the  islands  the  people  are  woolly  haired ; many 
of  them  have  faces  decidedly  Chinese  or  Japanese.  The 
islands  are  much  more  widely  scattered  than  those  of 
the  Marshall  and  Gilbert  groups.  Hence,  while  one 
language  is  spoken  on  all  the  islands  of  each  of  the 
latter  groups,  we  already  know  of  six  different  languages 
in  the  Caroline  Archipelago;  and  a more  thorough 
exploration  of  the  western  portion  will  probably  reveal 
one  or  two  more. 

In  these  islands  we  have  specimens  of  every  kind  of 
coral  reef.  Kusaie  has  a fringing  reef,  only  here  and 
there  detached  from  the  shores.  Ponape  has  a most 
beautiful  specimen  of  the  barrier  reef,  being  entirely 
encircled  by  one  which  is  separated  from  the  island  by 
from  two  to  eight  miles  of  water.  Through  this  reef 
there  are  several  passages,  and,  when  once  within,  the 
largest  vessels  might  sail  two  thirds  around  the  island  in 
the  calm  waters  of  the  lagoon.  At  Ruk  also  we  have 
the  barrier  reef,  nearly  two  hundred  miles  in  circum- 
ference, while  the  island,  to  which  it  was  probably  once 
attached,  has  so  far  sunk  beneath  the  waves  that  only 
the  mountain-tops  are  left,  forming  numerous  islands, 
from  a few  rods  to  five  or  six  miles  in  diameter.  Then 
there  are  the  atolls,  of  all  sizes  and  shapes ; sometimes 
so  large  that  one  cannot  see  across  from  one  side  to  the 
other. 

These  islands  lie  so  near  the  equator,  that  the  days  and 
nights  are  of  nearly  equal  length  throughout  the  year. 
The  climate  is  equable,  the  variation  of  the  thermometer 
being  no  more  than  15  degrees  Fahrenheit  — from  72 
degrees  to  87  degrees.  The  rainfall  is  excessive,  yet 
malarial  disorders  are  practically  unknown. 

In  the  palmy  days  of  the  whale  fishery,  the  harbors 
of  Ponape  and  Kusaie  were  much  frequented  by  whale- 
ships  ; and  the  influence  upon  the  natives  from  contact 


MICRONESIA. 


9 


with  this  kind  of  civilization  was  most  demoralizing. 
Not  a few  runaway  sailors  and  others  made  their  homes 
among  the  natives,  and  vice,  intemperance,  and  licen- 
tiousness ran  riot. 

In  1852,  Rev.  A.  A.  Sturges  and  Rev.  L.  H.  Gulick, 
M.  i>.,  began  work  on  Ponape;  and  Rev.  B.  G.  .Snow  on 
Kusaie.  Eight  long  years  passed  before  the  first  con- 
vert was  made.  The  missionaries’  lives  were  sometimes 
in  danger.  There  were  times  when  no  native  could  even 
be  hired  to  do  any  service  for  a missionary.  White 
men  opposed  in  every  way  — even  robbing  the  mission- 
aries and  threatening  to  bombard  their  premises. 

But  the  gospel  triumphed.  Kusaie  is  to-day  beau- 
tiful, not  only  in  its  natural  features  which  give  it  the 
name  of  the  “ Gem  of  the  Pacific,”  but  also  in  the 
character  of  its  inhabitants.  On  Ponape  the  triumph  of 
the  gospel  is  not  so  complete.  There  is  still  left  a 
heathen  party;  but  the  majority  of  the  inhabitants  are 
at  least  nominally  Christians;  and,  for  ten  years  past, 
natives  of  Ponape  have  been  doing  missionary  work  on 
neighboring  islands. 


PINGELAP. 

In  1871,  Mr.  Sturges,  on  his  return  voyage  from  the 
United  States,  touched  at  Pingelap,  a coral  island,  one 
hundred  and  fifty  miles  east  of  Ponape.  The  inhab- 
itants, numbering  about  one  thousand,  were  wild,  rude 
savages,  almost  naked,  living  in  houses  little  better  than 
kennels,  and  utterly  unacquainted  with  Christian  truth. 
Mr.  Sturges  had  visited  the  island  before,  but  could  find 
no  opening  for  the  gospel.  Now.  however,  he  found  the 
people  willing  to  listen;  and  at  length  they  promised  to 
receive  teachers  from  Ponape.  With  a glad  and  thank- 
ful heart  Mr.  Sturges  went  to  Ponape,  gathered  the 
Christians  together,  and  told  them  that  God  had  opened 
the  door  into  Pingelap.  He  called  for  volunteers  to  go 


10 


MICRONESIA. 


and  tell  those  people  the  way  of  life.  Two  families  were 
chosen,  and  soon  after  embarked  on  the  Morning  Star  for 
their  destination. 

On  their  arrival  they  found  the  natives  sullen,  inhos- 
pitable, and  utterly  unwilling  to  receive  the  teachers. 
Mr.  Sturges  inquired  the  reason  of  their  refusal.  The 
high-priest  of  the  island,  who  was  also  a chief,  second 
in  rank  to  the  king,  produced  a paper  which  the  mis- 
sionary found  to  be  an  agreement  between  one  Captain 
Hayes  — a trader  whose  vessel  lay  at  anchor  at  Ponape 
when  Mr.  Sturges  arrived  in  quest  of  teachers  — and  the 
chiefs  of  the  island,  by  which  they  bound  themselves  for 
ten  years  neither  to  receive  teachers  nor  to  trade  with 
any  other  white  man.  Its  contents  had  been  explained 
to  them,  and  they  had  made  their  marks,  and  now  held 
the  obligation  to  be  binding.  Captain  Hayes  well  knew 
that  missionary  influence  would  interfere  with  his  unlaw- 
ful gains,  and  especially  his  licentious  habits.  Hence  his 
opposition. 

Mr.  Sturges  was  compelled  to  return,  and  the  powers 
of  darkness,  for  the  time,  triumphed.  But  God  works  in 
his  own  way. 

Six  natives  of  Pingelap  had  previously  been  brought 
to  Ponape  by  a trader,  as  his  servants.  When  their  time  of 
service  ended,  he  set  them  adrift ; and,  being  strangers 
in  a strange  land,  they  knew  not  what  to  do.  Presently 
they  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  missionary,  to  whom  they 
resorted  in  their  trouble,  and  were  permitted  to  use  some 
native  houses  and  to  cultivate  a piece  of  land.  They 
were  also  invited  to  attend  school.  They  became  so 
interested  that  at  length  they  sat  up  often  until  midnight 
to  study  by  the  light  of  a cocoanut-oil  lamp.  In  a few 
months  two  of  them  began  to  read  the  Gospels,  which 
had  been  translated  into  the  Ponapean  tongue.  They 
gave  such  good  evidence  that  the  truth  had  found  a 
lodgment  in  their  hearts,  that  they  were  baptized,  one 


MICRONESIA. 


11 


receiving  the  name  of  Thomas,  the  other  of  David. 
After  eight  months  of  schooling,  a vessel  touched  at 
Ponape,  whose  captain  kindly  offered  to  carry  them  hack 
to  their  homes.  Mr.  Sturges  advised  them  to  go  and  tell 
their  people  what  they  had  learned  of  Jesus  and  the  way 
of  life. 

They  went,  and  at  once  began  telling  the  “ old,  old 
story.”  Violent  opposition  was  aroused,  but  they  per- 
sisted. Finally  the  heathen  high-priest,  as  at  Carmel  of 
old,  gathered  a large  assembly,  promising  by  incanta- 
tions to  kill  Thomas  and  David.  While  performing  the 
preliminary  rites,  he  became  so  frenzied  that  he  fell 
prostrate,  and  lay  like  one  ciead.  The  natives  gathered 
about  him,  and  used  all  the  restorative  processes  they 
knew  of,  but  without  avail.  They  thought  him  dead. 
It  occurred  to  some  one  to  summon  the  teachers.  They 
came,  and,  kneeling  beside  the  prostrate  form,  engaged 
in  prayer.  The  priest  returned  to  consciousness  before 
the  prayer  was  finished;  and  the  multitude  at  once 
declared  that  the  new  religion  had  triumphed.  The 
people  were  now  more  willing  to  listen,  and  the  next 
news  wafted  to  Ponape  was  that  Pingelap  had  forsaken 
its  old  hostility,  and  was  earnestly  seeking  the  light. 

A teacher  was  at  once  sent  from  Ponape,  and  the 
progress  was  wonderful.  Their  houses  had  been  only 
thatched  roofs,  the  eaves  resting  on  the  ground.  A hole 
in  the  gable,  through  which  the  occupants  crawled  on 
their  hands  and  knees,  served  for  both  door  and  window. 
There  was  no  floor  save  a few  coeoanut  leaves  spread  on 
the  ground.  But  the  people  now  selected  a beautiful  site 
on  the  beach,  and  built  for  themselves  a village  of  houses, 
raised  on  posts,  with  floors  and  sides,  doors,  and  openings 
for  windows.  Coral  was  burned  to  make  lime,  and  the 
whole  neatly  whitewashed.  Coral  rock  was  dug  out  of 
the  reef,  and  a church  large  enough  to  seat  six  hundred 
was  built ; also  a commodious  dwelling  for  their  teacher. 


12 


MICRONESIA. 


Cloth  was  bought  of  the  traders,  and  men,  women,  and 
children  were  soon  decently  clothed.  The  day-school 
numbered  sometimes  three  hundred,  and  the  Sabbath- 
school  filled  the  great  church.  Morning  and  evening,  as 
well  as  on  the  Sabbath,  nearly  the  entire  population 
assembled  to  hear  the  gospel.  Liquor  and  tobacco  were 
banished  from  the  island,  and  the  ten  commandments 
became  their  code  of  laws.  A police  force  was  chosen, 
a stone  jail  erected,  and  justice  administered  so  speedily 
and,  on  the  whole,  so  justly,  that  their  court  procedures 
might  perhaps  be  copied  with  advantage  even  by  more 
civilized  communities.  * 

Nor  was  this  a transient  wave  of  enthusiasm.  They 
have  gone  steadily  on  for  twelve  years,  with  less  of 
reaction  than  often  follows  revival  seasons  at  home. 
Thomas  returned  to  Ponape,  and,  having  spent  three 
years  in  school,  is  now  the  ordained  pastor  of  a church 
of  about  two  hundred  and  fifty  members,  beloved  and 
respected  by  all  the  inhabitants  of  the  island.  All  this 
has  been  accomplished  without  expense  to  Christians  at 
home,  except  so  much  as  is  involved  in  the  yearly  visits 
of  the  Morning  Star. 

The  Pingelap  church  has  sent  out  one  of  its  members 
as  a missionary  to  the  islands  beyond,  and  their  yearly 
contributions  to  the  American  Board  are  not  far  from  one 
hundred  dollars. 

THE  MORTLOCKS. 

Three  hundred  miles  southwestward  from  Ponape  are 
the  Mortloek  Islands,  a subordinate  group  of  three  atolls  * 
in  the  Caroline  Archipelago.  The  population  is  about 
thirty-five  hundred.  In  December,  1873,  three  Pouapean 
families  were  carried  thither  by  the  Morning  Star. 
The  language  was  found  to  be  different  from  that 
spoken  on  Ponape.  A white  man  living  on  one  of  tire 

* An  atoll  is  a coral  reef  enclosing  a lagoon.  This  reef  may  be 
entirely  barren  or  may  have  one  or  more  habitable  islets. 


MICRONESIA. 


18 


Islands  acted  as  interpreter.  The  chiefs  and  people  were 
asked  if  they  would  receive  teachers  from  Ponape.  They 
had  seen  something  of  the  white  man's  skill,  had  heard 
vague  reports  of  the  blessings  brought  by  Christianity  to 
other  islands,  and  were  thus  predisposed  to  a favorable 
answer.  Mr.  Sturges  said  to  them:  “These  teachers 
must  be  fed  and  housed.  Will  you  provide  for  them?” 
They  answered : “ Yes.”  Mr.  Sturges  then  turned  to  the 
teachers  and  said : “ You  hear  what  these  chiefs  promise. 
Are  you  willing  to  take  the  risk?  I have  not  so  much  as 
a lish-hook  to  leave  with  you,  with  which  to  buy  food.” 
These  Ponape  teachc®  had  left  home,  friends,  and  native 
island  with  the  understanding  that  they  were  to  receive 
no  pay  for  their  missionary  work,  and  must  trust  the 
people  to  whom  they  went  for  food.  Food  is  always 
plenty  and  of  good  quality  on  Ponape,  but  the  products 
of  these  islands  are  few  and  inferior.  They  knew  the 
risk  they  were  taking,  — nothing  less  than  starvation  in 
case  these  heathen  went  back  on  their  word.  Yet  they 
promptly  said:  “ We  are  willing  to  stay.” 

Their  few  effects  were  then  landed,  and  the  Morning 
Star  sailed  away.  Toward  the  close  of  the  next  year  the 
vessel  came  again  to  Ponape  on  her  yearly  voyage  to  the 
mission  stations  in  Micronesia.  Mr.  Sturges  embarked 
to  visit  “his  children”  at  the  west.  You  can  scarcely 
imagine  his  feelings  as  the  vessel  drew  near  the  Mort- 
loeks  The  love  of  the  missionary  for  his  converts  is 
something  like  that  of  a mother  for  her  child.  Would  he 
find  that  the  chiefs  had  kept  faith  with  the  teachers?  and 
were  they  alive,  prosperous,  and  happy? 

The  Morning  Star  sailed  into  the  lagoon  of  Lukunor, 
the  eastern  island  of  the  Mortlocks.  Before  she  dropped 
anchor,  a canoe  was  seen  to  put  off  from  the  shore.  As 
it  drew  near,  one  of  the  teachers  was  recognized,  and 
soon  the  missionary  had  him  by  the  hand.  Yes,  the 
natives  had  kept  faith,  and  provided  for  them,  even 
while  they  themselves  suffered  from  famine.  A 


14 


MICRONESIA. 


hurricane  had  swept  the  great  waves  over  the  land, 
which,  at  high  tide,  is  but  six  or  eight  feet  above  the 
ocean  level.  The  salt  water  had  killed  the  bread-fruit 
trees  and  ruined  the  taro  patches.  Men,  women,  and 
children  had  died  from  starvation,  yet  they  had  kept  their 
promise  and  fed  their  teachers ! 

After  a few  days  of  delightful  sojourn  the  Morning  Star 
sailed  away,  and  left  them  for  another  year.  The  parting 
was  a sad  one.  The  teachers  were  lonely;  they  were 
homesick;  even  the  men  were  in  tears.  Mr.  Sturges 
offered  to  take  them  back,  hut  thev  said:  “ No,  we  will 
stay.”  “ 

The  next  year,  Mr.  Sturges  again  embarked  for  a 
second  visit.  The  vessel  entered  the  lagoon  as  before. 
A boat  was  lowered,  and  the  missionary  soon  found  him- 
self approaching  several  hundred  natives  on  the  shore. 
As  he  drew  near,  there  came  floating  out  over  the  deep 
a song  of  welcome,  the  words  of  which  he  was  unable  to 
distinguish,  nor  could  lie  have  understood  them  if  he 
had.  It  was  a song  of  welcome  to  the  Morning  Star , 
composed  by  the  missionaries  on  Ponape.  The  native 
teachers  had  translated  the  words  into  Mortlock,  and 
there,  on  the  white  coral  sand,  under  the  shade  of  the 
cocoa-trees,  were  hundreds  of  people  of  both  sexes  and 
of  all  ages,  singing  this  song  of  welcome.  As  the  boat 
touched  the  shore,  they  eagerly  crowded  forward  to  grasp 
the  missionary's  hand.  He  was  then  led  by  the  teachers, 
first,  to  the  comfortable  dwellings  in  the  shade  of  the 
cocoa-trees;  then  a few  rods  further  inland,  where,  in 
a grove  of  bread-fruit  trees,  stood  a church. 

Timbers  had  been  sawn,  and  a frame  erected,  not 
unlike  that  of  an  oldtime  New  England  barn.  The  floor 
and  the  sides  were  of  hewn  plank  of  the  bread-fruit 
trees,  each  one  representing  a log,  as  this  timber  will  not 
split.  The  roof  was  of  thatch,  the  doors  and  windows 
simply  openings.  Within,  at  the  farther  end,  was  a 
raised  platform,  a rude  settee,  and  a pulpit. 


MICRONESIA. 


15 


Thither  the  missionary  and  teachers  made  their  way. 
The  church  was  packed  with  natives  sitting  on  the  floor. 
A hymn  was  sung,  and,  though  out  of  harmony,  their 
voices  were  sweet.  One  and  another  then  offered  prayer ; 
after  which,  many  (the  husband  in  all  cases  sitting  by 
his  wife)  presented  themselves  as  candidates  for  baptism. 
Having  been  carefully  examined,  many  were  approved, 
and,  later  in  the  day,  baptized  and  organized  into  a 
Christian  church.  At  each  of  three  stations,  on  as  many 
islets,  the  same  scene  was  enacted.  All  this,  at  the  close 
of  the  second  year’s  labor,  by  men  and  women  themselves 
born  and  bred  in  heamenism ! 

The  work  thus  begun  went  on  until  there  was  a 
church  on  each  of  the  seven  inhabited  islets  of  the 
Mortlock  group.  The  teachers  were  from  time  to  time 
reinforced  from  Ponape,  and  the  work  spread  to  three 
other  islands  beyond,  with  the  same  wonderful  success. 

RUK. 

Two  hundred  miles  northwest  of  the  Mortlocks  lies 
the  lagoon  of  Ruk.  A great  coral  reef  nearly  two 
hundred  miles  in  circumference  surrounds  a large 
number  of  islands  varying  in  size  from  a mere  speck  to 
those  with  a circuit  of  twenty  or  twenty-five  miles.  The 
inhabitants  number  ten  or  twelve  thousand,  and  are 
naturally  very  fierce  and  barbarous,  ever  at  war  among 
themselves,  and  merciless  toward  the  white  man. 

Our  eyes  had  long  been  turned  toward  Ruk  in  vain;, 
but  the  Lord,  at  length,  opened  the  way.  A native 
teacher,  named  Moses,  had  been  stationed  on  Kama,  forty 
miles  from  Ruk.  After  a while  a chief  from  one  of 
these  islands,  with  some  of  his  followers,  came  to  Naina. 
From  curiosity  they  went  to  hear  Moses  preach,  became 
interested,  and  then  took  a small  house  near  the  teacher, 
that  they  might  constantly  attend  the  sendees.  When 
the  Morning  Star  made  its  yearly  round,  this  chief 
pleaded  for  a teacher  for  his  own  people.  Moses  was  the 


16 


MICRONESIA. 


chosen  man ; and,  leaving  a new  teacher  in  his  place,  he 
went  with  the  chief  to  the  lagoon  of  Kuk.  The  life  of 
Moses  was  sometimes  in  danger,  but  after  a year  he  was 
found  living  in  a comfortable  house,  which  the  natives 
had  built  for  him;  and  in  a beautiful  grove,  near  by, 
stood  a nearly  completed  church.  Thirty-six  men  and 
women  ottered  themselves  as  candidates  for  baptism; 
twenty-four  of  whom  were  approved,  and  organized  into 
the  first  church  of  Uraan. 

This  was  three  years  ago.  Moses  has  since  been  rein- 
forced, and  four  organized  churches,  on  as  many  islands, 
are  the  fruit  of  their  labors,  an<?  every  island  in  the 
lagoon  is  calling  for  teachers.  Wars  are  now  infrequent. 
The  people  lie  down  in  security  at  night,  and  cultivate 
their  lands  in  peace.  Hundreds  of  children  and  youth  are 
taught  to  read  and  write,  and  many  souls  are  born  into 
the  kingdom. 

Reports  of  the  good  work  have  spread  to  the  islands 
beyond,  and  from  them  comes  a similar  call  for  gospel 
helpers.  These  teachers  work  without  salary,  asking 
from  the  Board  only  their  clothing  and  a few  simple 
articles  of  furniture.  About  one  third  of  the  islands  in 
the  Caroline  Archipelago  have  been  already  occupied. 
On  nine  of  them  heathenism  has  been  entirely  over- 
thrown, and  on  the  residue  it  bids  fair  to  be  soon 
extinguished. 

Doubtless,  with  God’s  blessing,  and  with  a sufficient 
force  of  white  missionaries  to  man  the  training-schools, 
and  supervise  the  work,  and  with  a new  Morning  Star. 
with  auxiliary  steam-power,  which  on  account  of  calms 
and  currents  in  the  Pacific  is  greatly  needed,  every  island 
might  be  evangelized  within  the  lifetime  of  one 
generation.  These  islands  are  literally  waiting  for  God's 
law,  and  no  other  agency  except  that  which  is  under  the 
care  of  the  American  Board  is  at  work  in  the  field.  May 
God  enable  us  all  to  be  faithful  to  this  sacred  trust  ! 


“&urelg  ti)c  isles  sfjall  bait  for  me 


i 


